Clinical Elective

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

40 hours per week

Prerequisites may be taken concurrently

Clinical experience equivalent to the first full year of the MD

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The aim of this voluntary elective is to offer a student an opportunity to explore an unfamiliar area or setting of clinical medicine to broaden their understanding of health care. Students undertaking an elective will be encouraged to complete it in an area outside their previous experience, and in a location other than their home clinical school.

Note about Clinical Electives

• Students commencing the MD course from 2014 onwards will have the option of undertaking a clinical elective of least 1 weeks duration, during any non-teaching period, arranged by the student in consultation with the relevant Director Medical Student Education and participating institution.

For further information about the Elective Clinical Placement, please see the policies on the Melbourne Medical School website: http://medicine.unimelb.edu.au/students/policies

• Demonstrate empathy, compassion, honesty, integrity, altruism, resilience and lifelong curiosity in relevant clinical settings
• Apply the principles of reflective practice in relevant clinical settings
• Recognise when clinical problems exceed your knowledge in relevant clinical settings and to know when to ask for help
• Identify and address your learning needs in all clinical settings
• Respond constructively to assessment and appraisal in relevant clinical settings
• Manage clinical uncertainty in relevant clinical settings
• Apply effective time-management and organisational skills to relevant clinical settings
• Recognise your own emotion and emotion in others in relevant clinical settings
• Respect the rights of patients including patient choice, dignity and privacy in all clinical settings
• Communicate effectively with patients from diverse backgrounds including listening to, responding to, and understanding the patient’s perspective in all clinical settings
• Advocate appropriately on behalf of a patient
• Respond to factors affecting human relationships and the psychological, cultural and spiritual well-being of patients in clinical care
• Understand that it is not always in the interests of the patient to do everything that is technically possible to make a precise diagnosis or to attempt to modify the course of an illness
• Demonstrate an ability to apply the principles of ethics in the provision of health care
• Understand the roles, responsibilities and expertise of all health professionals, and how they work in teams to deliver health care
• Respect the roles and expertise of other health care professionals and communicate effectively with them
• Work effectively in a team, including as a leader
• Apply the principles of quality and safety in health care systems
• Work effectively as a doctor within a quality and safety framework including recognising, responding to and learning from adverse events and medical errors
• Apply the principles of effective record keeping
• Understand the structure of the Australian health care system and health care systems globally
• Understand the burden of disease in differing populations and geographic locations
• Understand the differing requirements of health care systems in a culturally diverse society
• Contribute to the community.

Proof of attendance from site of elective (to be submitted no later than one month after completion of the elecitve, 100%, Pass/Fail)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• Self reliance
• Diplomacy (as ambassadors of The University of Melbourne)
• Interpersonal (interacting with patients from different backgrounds)